The first 15 graduates of the Master in Theology (MTh) course at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute received their degrees at the December commencements in Trinity College Dublin.

The 15 new graduates were among first intakes on the new three–year course when it began in 2009. In their third year, they completed their dissertations while they were placed in parishes as deacon interns. All 15 were ordained priest in recent months.

The director of CITI, the Revd Dr Maurice Elliott, described the conferrings as “a happy event for the whole community at CITI” and said it was a major milestone for the training of ordinands in the Church of Ireland.

Caption:(from left)

• Dr Katie Heffelfinger (CITI);
• Revd Jim Wallace (Waterford),
• Revd Paddy McGlinchey (CITI),
• Revd Jonathan Campbell–Smyth (Coleraine),
• Revd Matthew Milliken (Lisburn),
• Revd Emma Rutherford (Coleraine),
• Revd Keith Marshall (Portadown),
• Revd Iain Jamieson (Ballymena),
• Revd Jim Caldwell (Larne),
• Revd Stephanie Woods (Drung),
• Revd Colin McConaghie (Drumglass),
• Revd John Godfrey (Galway),
• Revd Naomi Quinn (Derg),
• Revd Nicola Halford (Wexford),
• Revd Alistair Morrison (Ballyholme),
• Revd Sarah Marry (Blackrock),
• Revd Caroline Mansley (Kesh),
• Revd Dr Maurice Elliott (CITI).